Imeretinskaya lowland in Sochi. Where to go, what to see. Ornithology

Where did the lands of the Olympic ornithopark disappear: an interactive map of the cut of the Imereti lowland January 31st, 2014

It's time to expose another popular lie about the consequences of the Olympics for the nature of Russia. Dmitry Kozak said at the Sport and Environment conference: Russia has fulfilled its obligations in the ecological sphere in full ... A natural ornithological park has been created in the Imeretinskaya lowland with an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 200 hectares.
However, in reality, something different has happened - officials have successfully “sawed” the Olympic lands intended for the park, and two-thirds of the area of \u200b\u200bthe “bird park in the Imereti lowland” is located outside the Imereti lowland itself.
Destroyed by the Olympic construction site, the Imeretinskaya lowland had no analogues on the Black Sea coast of Russia in terms of the diversity of migratory birds and coastal flora. According to the Russian Union for the Conservation of Birds, obtained on the basis of more than one hundred counts in 1997-2006, up to 200 bird species were recorded in the lowland during the migration, of which 26 species are included in the Red Book of the Krasnodar Territory, and 22 species - in the Red book of Russia. In cold winters, more than 16 thousand individuals of 65 bird species were encountered here.
In 2006, the Imeretinskaya Lowland was included in the list of territories that meet the criteria of the Ramsar Convention on the Protection of Wetlands, and in 2008 it was recognized as a key bird area of \u200b\u200binternational importance.
To protect birds and rare plants, back in 2004, scientists developed projects for an ornithological reserve and a natural monument to preserve coastal vegetation, which were supposed to include the fields of the Rossiya state farm and wetlands with a total area of \u200b\u200babout 800 hectares. This is how the lowland looked before the start of Olympic construction (the boundaries of the proposed protected areas are marked in red)

And here is an interactive map of the existing distribution of land on the territory of the Imeretinskaya lowland. Green on the map shows the areas that are actually included in the bird park, red - the boundaries of the areas allocated for various objects (information on objects is available when they are selected). As a result of all the manipulations with the land on the Imeretinskaya lowland, less than 100 hectares remained for the ornithological park, divided into 8 sections (clusters).

Below is a rather long description of how the officials and builders actually "protected" the nature of the Imereti lowland.

So, in order to justify the construction of Olympic facilities on a key bird area of \u200b\u200binternational importance, Sochi's application book contained a number of unfulfilled promises. In particular, it was argued that the existing lakes would be preserved as wintering places for birds and habitats for protected plants.
Also in the application book it was promised: “The Olympic Park will exclude uncontrolled development of the territory and mitigate the negative impact on ecosystems. No lasting negative impact is expected. "
To fulfill these promises, the program for the construction of Olympic facilities provided for the organization of a specially protected natural area of \u200b\u200bregional significance - a natural ornithological park.
Work on the design of the ornithopark began only in 2009 and it turned out that almost all the lands on the Imeretinskaya lowland had already been divided for building by various objects and the ornithopark promised in the Application Book with an area of \u200b\u200b300 hectares had nowhere to be located on the lowlands. Some of the lakes were filled up, and the most valuable part of the proposed bird park was behind a stone fence on a land plot provided by a military unit of the Russian FSB. Therefore, the authorities decided to give the drainage ponds of the storm sewer and the surrounding areas, as well as the wetland in the northern part of the lowland, for the ornithopark. But the land was sorely lacking, and in order to gain the promised area of \u200b\u200b300 hectares, it was decided to place most of the "ornithological park in the Imeretinskaya lowland" outside the Imeretinskaya lowland, on abandoned agricultural lands.
Even at the design stage, in April 2009, the Union for the Conservation of Birds of Russia sent its position on the project of an ornithopark to the administration of the Krasnodar Territory and the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation. Scientists stated: “The creation in a limited area of \u200b\u200bthe Imeretinskaya lowland of a series of scattered nature conservation objects for various purposes, including those that are not entirely clear, shows that the project developers do not have a clear idea of \u200b\u200bthe natural park as an integral specially protected natural area that has organizational features defined by the current legislation. This scheme also does not allow to meet the biologically determined needs of birds using this territory as habitats; in particular, it is proposed to include in the composition of the natural park only a small part of the territories that are still important for the conservation of birds. In the proposed version, the scheme leads to discrediting the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a natural park for the purpose of preserving unique natural objects. "

However, the opinion of scientists was not heeded. According to the latest version of the boundaries, approved by the decree of Governor Tkachev of October 1, 2012, the park territory consists of 14 areas scattered over a huge territory with a total area of \u200b\u200b298 hectares, while in the Imeretinskaya lowland itself, the ornithopark got about 100 hectares, divided into 9 areas. The remaining two-thirds of the area is located along the Psou river bed and in the mountains.
The figure shows the boundaries of the actually created clusters of the ornithological park (in green) and the boundaries previously proposed by scientists (in red).

But even those drainage ponds that could theoretically become a wintering place and a temporary stopover for migratory birds, the authorities decided to use at their discretion. Based on the Regulations on the Bird Park, the areas located on the Imeretinskaya Lowland will be used for recreation and commercial use as a kind of amusement park.
The site of the bird park describes the use of the plots as follows:
Cluster 1: as a recreation area for residents and guests of the resort city of Sochi.
Cluster 2: usage mode not described,
Cluster 3: not included in the bird park
Clusters 5 and 6: after the construction of the regulator pond is completed, the cluster is supposed to be populated by aquatic, near-water, cranes, chickens and other birds. It will be used for environmental education of the population and guests of the resort city of Sochi.
Cluster 7: the cluster is supposed to be used as a demonstration zone showing the species diversity of the avifauna and other representatives of the animal world, as well as the device of a unique dendrological park.
Cluster 8: after the completion of construction, it is planned to use the cluster as a park area with a pavilion of butterflies and a demonstration of insects in the Imeretinskaya lowland.
Cluster 9: the cluster is supposed to be used as a park area with children's playgrounds, a children's contact zoo corner.
Obviously, under the planned protection regime, disturbance-sensitive bird species will not be able to use the territory of the Imeretinskaya lowland.
At the same time, clusters 10, 13, 14, 15. However, cluster 10 is partially built up with border facilities, and the rest of it is located in the bed of the Psou River, cluster 13 is intensively used for agriculture, and clusters 14 and 15 are generally located outside the Russian state border. However, all these clusters remain virtual - none of them is selected asindependentland plot.
Photo: view of cluster 6 of the ornithological park, January 2014, Yandex.

Work on the "improvement of the territory" of the ornithopark has already begun. In 2013, more than 600 million rubles were allocated for the construction of paths and buildings for the administration, but this money has nothing to do with the protection of birds.
The situation with the protection of vegetation is no better. The only preserved area of \u200b\u200bseaside vegetation is a natural monument “A piece of beach with sandy seaside vegetation between the recreation centers“ Chernomorets ”and“ Energia ”was destroyed in April 2013, despite repeated promises of the SC“ Olympstroy ”to include this area in the bird park.
At present, the territory of the former natural monument looks like this (Yandex, January 2014)


Thus, instead of a protected area on the Imereti Lowland, officials have organized a kind of zoo, which they plan to populate with domesticated birds, to build enclosures and pavilions for butterflies on the banks of drainage ponds. Moreover, the area of \u200b\u200bthe created ornithopark is eight times smaller than the area that was destroyed.
Summing up, one can sadly say that because of the greed of officials, a unique natural object has been irretrievably destroyed and in our time no public lie can hide this. The main culprit of the "cutting" and destruction of the Imereti lowland is the governor Tkachev, who was responsible for the creation of an ornithological park and the distribution of Olympic lands. It is no coincidence that a huge piece of the Imereti lowland went to the Sochi-Park OJSC, which belongs to the offshore company of his son-in-law, for the construction of an amusement park not related to the Olympic Games. This is much more important than the protection of flora and fauna.
In the photo: the construction site of Sochi-Park in the former habitats of birds, January 2014, Yandex ..

Imereti resort is a large landscaped area in the Adler district of Sochi. From the north it is bounded by the foothills of the Caucasus, from the south by the Black Sea. This gently sloping place was once covered with swamps and thickets of outlines. By the 2014 Olympics, the Imereti lowland was turned into a European resort with a decent level of service: the swamps were drained, a modern embankment was built, and comfortable walking and cycling paths were laid. You can come here at any time of the year. Guests are welcomed by both giant hotels and private establishments with a cozy home atmosphere.

The main attractions of the Imeretinskaya lowland:

• with objects of the Olympic infrastructure;
• Amusement Park "Sochi-Park";
• A beautiful embankment and the best beaches in Sochi.

How to get to the Imereti resort

• You can get to the Imereti resort by rail on train "Swallow" - stop the Olympic Park, to go to the coast you will have to go through the entire Olympic Park;
• Taxi or Carsharing. Yandex.Taxi and Carsharing services operate in Greater Sochi;
• Public transport. A trip from the center of Sochi by public transport will take 45-50 minutes, from Adler 15-20 minutes:
  • Sochi - Olympic Park buses No. 124C, №125 ;
  • Adler - Olympic Park bus No. 124C, buses №57 and №125 (traveling through the state farm "Russia", travel time is longer).

Resort infrastructure

Since in the past Imeretinka was not an object of residential development, much has been built here from scratch: buildings, shops, roads. The entire infrastructure of the Imereti resort is subordinated to tourism. It is spacious, little transport, clean air, beautiful cottage settlements. The illuminated embankment stretches for 7.5 kilometers - almost to the border with Abkhazia on the Psou River.

Beaches

The coastal area is different from most of Sochi's beaches. There are no breakwaters here. Also, tourists will not be disturbed by the noise of the train, because the railway tracks after Adler turn into the mountains. There is a rather large strip between the embankment and the sea line; there is enough space for everyone. The sea is crystal clear, like in a protected area. The bottom is gently sloping - no steep slopes. Many Sochi residents come here to swim specially!

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The beach is almost entirely pebbly. In some places, the beach area is literally strewn with cobblestones. This was done on purpose - to strengthen the coastline. If you accidentally come out to a pile of stones, it's okay. It is worth walking a little to the right or left and find yourself on an ordinary pebble beach.

Olympic Park

The park area occupies a huge part of the Imeretinskaya Bay. Getting around all the sights on foot is tiring, so many people prefer to rent bicycles. The park is open from 8 am to 12 am. If you come here in the late afternoon, you can see a mesmerizing show of singing colored fountains. The show is held daily:

• in winter 18:00 to 19:00,
• in autumn and spring from 19:00 to 20:00,
• in summer from 20:30 to 21:30.

The main symbols of the Olympics are concentrated in the park: the Fisht stadium, the Shaiba children's health center, the Iceberg winter sports palace, and a curling center. In 2017, the Museum Center was opened in the park. Here they brought together 3 different museums under one roof: Tesla, Leonardo and the USSR. Also on the territory of the complex you can visit the car museum.

Amusement Park "Sochi-Park"

A real Disneyland is located in the Imereti Bay! 15 extreme and simply fun rides will not let thrill-seekers get bored. The entertainment complex has 5 interesting thematic zones. Events dedicated to various festive events are regularly held here. The main plus of the park: originality combined with entertainment on a European scale. The main disadvantage is the long queues for attractions during the season.

Directly at the entrance to the park there is a 4 * hotel "Bogatyr", decorated in the style of medieval castles. It is convenient to stop here for those for whom visiting "Sochi-Park" is the main purpose of a trip to the Black Sea coast. Each of the hotel guests receives one free ticket.

Where to stay in the Imereti lowland

Russians who are accustomed to expensive vacations or vacations with a modest budget come to Imeretinskaya Bay. Here you can stay in the so-called private sector, rent a hotel room, or a turnkey house. But the Imereti resort is primarily famous for its large closed hotel complexes. The most famous are Sochi Park, Imeretinsky and Velvet Seasons.

Hotel "Sochi Park" 3 *

Beautiful closed area, reasonable prices, there are all conditions for a comfortable stay with children. From "Sochi Park" it is easy to get to any point of the planned route both inside the Imeretinskaya Bay and beyond. Close to bus stop and train station. To the sea 10 minutes. Tickets to Sochi-Park are included in the accommodation.

Hotel "Imeretinskiy" 4 *

Safety, cleanliness, comfort; outdoor heated pool, spa, children's room. The food is varied and tasty. The special pride of the hotel is the Library restaurant overlooking the sea. Divided into several quarters:

Complex "Velvet Seasons" 3 *

The city-hotel includes two residential quarters: the Russian House and the Catherine Quarter. All categories of rooms are presented here: from standard to apartments. The complex is located in the Nizhneimeretinskaya Bay on the territory of the Rossiya state farm, an agricultural enterprise that operated in Soviet times. The proximity of the sea coast and affordable prices have made this place very popular with holidaymakers.
Also divided into several quarters:

All the time of the Olympic construction in the state farm "Russia" pickets and rallies were held. Their inspirer is Natalya Kalinovskaya, chairman of the local TPSG Psou, member of the Sochi Public Environmental Council. The activist is one of the Sochi residents who perceive the 2014 Games extremely negatively.

"We endured construction for five years"

With Natalya Kalinovskaya and her friend Svetlana Beresteneva we are sitting in a tiny kitchen. Here, the apartment is less than 30 sq. m, eleven people are registered - her family, daughter's family, ex-husband. Svetlana, who has been on the waiting list to improve her living conditions since her birth in 1966, is still pounding the doorstep of the administration. Recently she was offered an apartment in Krasnaya Polyana, but the woman does not want to move there: she does not like how she claims that there is no social infrastructure in the mountains, it is difficult to get there. He continues to seek an apartment here, in the remaining houses for displaced persons and volunteers.

“From the Games, we got a lack of money and unemployment (the growth of unemployment was also recorded by Rosstat. - Gazeta.Ru),” says Kalinovskaya. - Do you know how our acquaintance with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) began? In April 2008, the first commission of the Olympic Committee was to arrive. Governor Tkachev said that not a single house will be demolished, not a single family will be harmed. And before the visit of the IOC, talks about the demolition began. We prepared posters and hid them in the Old Believer cemetery. When the IOC commission appeared there, they took it out and tried to deploy it. The police ran at us, a fight broke out. This is how local residents got to know the Olympic Committee. We realized that there was no one on our side.

- I, - adds Beresteneva with a smile, - had a hope that because of this cemetery the stadium would not be built.

Built. A couple of dozen meters from the Fisht stadium there is an operating churchyard fenced off, which was covered with red screens during the Olympics.

“We suffered the construction for five years,” the women continue. - They drove thousands of guest workers, who at night dragged everything edible from their homes. A friend left a frying pan with cutlets on the stove, so they dared them too, they threw the frying pan in the garden.

Olympic construction has had a detrimental effect on the holiday season. It was cheaper to relax in "Russia" than in the promoted Adler and Sochi itself. Having arrived in the first year of construction, the tourists did not return: the whole site was buzzing around the clock with bulldozers and excavators, it was impossible to open the windows because of the dust. Tourists who came for many years in a row shrugged their shoulders: the village was unrecognizable.

However, after the end of construction, tourists began to return.

- This summer people went. For example, I had a couple from Moscow who had previously traveled to Berdyansk in Ukraine. It is now dangerous there, they were looking for where it is cheaper, - the interlocutors add.

State farm "Russia" in Sochi before the Olympics

Last fall, in an interview, Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov agreed that the Coastal Cluster, which also includes the former state farm, "requires additional presentations" - at the height of the season, the number of rooms in the Imeretinskaya Lowland was 55% full.

Today, by the way, on many fences in the state farm "Russia" there are sweeping inscriptions "For Sale".

I am trying to deduce at least something positive, because in the Imereti lowland they have laid roads, made a gas accumulator, and laid out flower beds.

- Do you know that even the Olympic flame burned from a cylinder? - interrupts Kalinovskaya. - We did not have network gas, and we still do not. After every rain, the Ministry of Emergency Situations comes to pump out water from the yards. When the captured Germans were building the state farm, the roads were paved with cobblestones, water was absorbed into the ground. Now everything is rolled up with asphalt, it flows in streams into the lowlands. There were concrete power transmission poles on the state farm - they were replaced with wooden ones.

"Adler jumped a hundred years ahead"

Saying goodbye to the activists, I walk through the residential areas that have grown on the site of greenhouses. Smooth roads, neat houses against the background of snow-capped peaks and a blue sky. There are almost no people. All this is bright, beautiful, but absolutely not inhabited.

Not all residents of Imeretinka are dissatisfied with the neighborhood with the Olympics. I find Viktor Altunyan in the new Tavrichesky microdistrict. On the site of his former courtyard, an Olympic station was built, in exchange they gave a typical house and a plot.

State farm Russia after the Olympics

- They sent a decree in advance, explained: either take the money, or a new house. I love doing housework, I chose the second option, - explains the man, looking up from the construction site. There are planed boards and a tool on the ground. At the back of the yard, he is completing a two-story utility block.

“We have been living here for the fourth year,” Altunyan shares.

In the former place there were no communications, except for the light. Now there is gas (though imported: they pump it into the storage tank, from there they distribute it to their homes), sewerage, water.

- Adler jumped a hundred years ahead, - lists the Sochi resident. - Previously, it took an hour and a half to get to the city, now I reach the new interchanges in 20 minutes. Of course, there are dissatisfied. But the man was given everything new - say thank you, most of my acquaintances have moved in a positive way.

Olympic torch

He also dismisses complaints about five years of continuous construction: when the house is being renovated, one has to endure inconveniences, such an Olympics cannot be built without noise and dust.

And the dissatisfied, he adds, most likely fed from the demolished greenhouses where radishes and other vegetables were grown. She says that there are no problems with employment in Imeretinka.

I leave "Russia" in the evening. On the embankment, where the sun has hidden in the sea for ten minutes, couples are walking, several mothers with babies, cyclists are slowly pedaling. There are not many people, despite the warm Saturday evening. Slightly more tourists are on the square in front of the central fountain: about thirty people are watching a bright music show with foam jets and lighting. The rest of the Olympic Park is empty, you can wander the lighted paths all alone.

Cemetery of Old Believers (circle on the left side of the frame)

This week, Gazeta.Ru will also launch a special project timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Readers will be presented with a panoramic interactive map of the Olympic facilities in Sochi, which will depict the three main periods of the Olympic Sochi: 1) the moment of preparation for the Olympics, the construction of facilities and infrastructure; 2) the competitive period of the Games, the number of medals played at each facility, the success of Russian athletes; 3) the Olympic legacy and how Sochi lives now, how the facilities are used, what competitions are held and planned.

Surely you are primarily interested in where the Imeretinskaya Valley is located. This is the extreme southern coastal area in the Adlerovsky district of the city of Sochi. It was here that the famous Olympic facilities were deployed, which caused such an influx of tourists. This is the most transformed, modern and beautiful area of \u200b\u200bthe resort town. Until 2007, ordinary private houses were located in this place, and after the construction was planned here, the picture changed dramatically: in addition to all the other objects, hotels in the Imereti lowland were being massively built here, so that visitors would have a place to stay.

City-hotel "Velvet Seasons"

First of all, we are interested in this stunning resort in the resort town because it is located in the Imereti lowland, on the Black Sea coast. Sochi is located very close, and from the windows you can admire the beautiful landscapes of Krasnaya Polyana. Leaving the hotel, you immediately find yourself on the Black Sea coast, a little further there is an ornithological park with freshwater ponds and walking alleys, a theme amusement park and other wonders. That is why hotels in the Imereti Lowland are invariably popular with tourists, there is something to do here. This city-hotel consists of four quarters. We'll take a closer look at each of them.

"Alexandrovsky Park"

This large and beautiful hotel is located 9 km from Sochi Airport and the railway. In the immediate vicinity there is a park of several hectares. Rare tropical plants grow here. Not all hotels in the Imereti Lowland can boast of such popularity, and this is no accident. The first impression is made by the territory, the presence of a developed infrastructure creates good conditions for a good rest. The second is the equipment of the rooms. The interiors are specially selected in a classic style, and only high-quality natural materials were used for decoration. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning and comfortable upholstered furniture, each has a bathroom. A fitness room and a tour desk are available on site. You can see not only local sights, but also the hotels of the Imereti Lowland, so that you have something to compare with. Judging by the reviews, tourists are very fond of the "Alexander Park" for its close proximity to the sea, cleanliness and comfort.

"Chistye Prudy"

In its own way, a unique hotel, which is located between the freshwater lake and the Black Sea. This tourist quarter is located on the territory of the Olympic Park. Of course, all hotels (Imeretinskaya lowland) have a good level of service. Adler is distinguished by its cordiality and hospitality, which is felt immediately upon arrival. But it is "Chistye Prudy" that is a place filled with a special atmosphere of warmth and care. It will be interesting for adults and children, for the former there is a fitness center, beauty salon and a night club, while the latter will spend time in the playroom. Guests can stay in standard or suite rooms. For the most demanding apartments are offered. Each room has air conditioning and TV, minibar, furniture and bath with hairdryer and other necessary accessories. Room rates - from 2900 rubles. per day, it includes breakfast and excursions, you will discover the entire Imeretinskaya lowland. The Velvet Seasons Hotel always receives a large number of warm reviews, the conditions for recreation here are fabulous, and, judging by the words of tourists, it is worth coming here every year.

"Ekaterininsky quarter"

When choosing a hotel for yourself, be sure to note how much you love being among a large number of people. For some, this is a wonderful opportunity for communication, while others, on the contrary, strive for maximum privacy. Hotels in the Imeretinskaya lowland (Sochi) are mostly large, but this one is especially. It is designed for 1194 rooms, each of which can accommodate from two to four people. However, the territory of the hotel is so huge that sometimes the illusion of loneliness is created.

All hotels are very comfortable, and everyone chooses the number of services independently. A standard room will cost 2970 rubles, the price includes breakfast. Numerous reviews confirm that the hotel rooms are spotlessly clean, very beautiful, and the staff are courteous and polite.

"Russian house"

A three-minute walk from the Black Sea coast and pebble beach is this stunning hotel. You can get to the Olympic Park from here in 10 minutes, and to the center of Sochi in about 30 minutes. If you are looking for the most wonderful place on the entire coast, then in front of you is the Imeretinskaya lowland. Hotels ("Russian House" and all of the above) are real examples of an ideal hotel complex. We have already talked about the rest, as for the "Russian House", it is designed for 3500 rooms, decorated in a modern style with functional furniture. On the territory there are bars and restaurants, a pizzeria and a luggage room, a laundry and much more. Judging by the reviews of tourists, the work of the hotel is just perfect. Here you can have a great time with your family and fun company.

Hotel "Azimut"

This is a three-star resort hotel that only opened in 2013. It is not part of the Velvet Seasons hotel city, but is located on the same territory of the Imeretinskaya Valley. There are not so many reviews about room service, they note cleanliness and order, delicious breakfasts, etc., things that are commonplace for these places. But many tourists emphasize the magnificent territory of the hotel, created specifically so that you can fully enjoy the walks. Hotel "Azimut" (Imeretinskaya lowland) offers accommodation in any of eight residential buildings, each of which has its own focus (youth, family). A group of hotel buildings surrounds a stunning area with numerous swimming pools, walking paths and cozy gazebos. You can spend days here all day long, but do not forget that Sochi has prepared a lot of interesting excursions that cannot be missed. The cost of rest with breakfast included here starts from 2,500 rubles per day, superior suites cost up to 7,000 rubles.

Hotel "Imeretinskaya"

This luxurious hotel, impressive at first sight, is located a 20-minute walk from the Sochi Olympic Park. The beloved oceanarium is about a 10-minute walk away. The hotel has 196 comfortable rooms with sea views. Each of them is equipped with impeccable furniture and modern technology. In the mornings, a sumptuous buffet is formed in the restaurant, and during the day you can taste dishes of Russian and European cuisines. Every year, the collection of positive reviews about the hotel is replenished, guests are simply enchanted by the atmosphere and service. Summing up, I would like to say that each of the presented hotels is distinguished by the highest level of service, which means that it will provide you with a great vacation.

01. Torch, "Big" and "Ice Cube".

Sochi Olympic Park is the main site of the 2014 Winter Olympics. It was in it that the whole main movement of the Games took place, and after their completion, various sports events are held here. The park is located in the Adler region, in the Imereti lowland, right on the Black Sea coast.

02. Part of the Adler Arena, figure skating training rink and Iceberg.

The most important in the park are sports facilities. Six stadiums are arranged in a circle: Fisht (opening and closing of the Olympics), Puck (second hockey arena), Bolshoi (the main ice palace for), Ice cube (), Adler-Arena () and "Iceberg" (and). In the center of the circle is a huge torch, in which the fire of the games burned. Also, a wall of champions of the games was installed on the square and a Formula 1 track was built. The Sochi Park amusement and amusement park was built near the sports facilities.

03. Torch and Fisht.

Such an accumulation of similar objects in one place is beneficial during the Olympic Games themselves, but what to do with them after is a big question. For many years it was asserted that the objects were prefabricated and that they would be transported to other regions of Russia. This immediately seemed absurd, and after the construction it became finally clear that nothing could be transported. All were left to stand on the Black Sea coast.

04. Formula 1 track. Because of it, the Olympic Park is now constantly covered with a large number of fences and it is best to move around it on bicycles. By the way, they are allowed on the track once a week and you can ride like a real F1 pilot before the race.

Expensive construction work is again on the Fisht: it is being prepared for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. An amazing thing: in Krasnodar there are two football clubs that play in the Premier League - Krasnodar and Kuban. The owner of Krasnodar and the Magnit store chain Sergey Galitsky of a new and purely football stadium for his club, which in the spring of 2015 became the bronze medalist of the Russian championship. But the regional capital was left without a World Cup, despite the huge interest in football. There is no football team in Sochi, there is no interest of fans even longer, but it was the resort town that received the world championship.

05. The 40-thousandth Fisht stadium, where the opening and closing of the 2014 Olympics took place. It cost about 20 billion rubles, which is 2.5 times more expensive than analogues.

The ice hockey arena "Shaiba" for 7000 seats is one of the most modest construction projects in Sochi-2014. They spent “only” 3.4 billion rubles on it, which is about 1.5 times more expensive than analogues. Minor matches of the Olympic hockey tournament were held here. Today the All-Russian Children's Sports and Health Center is located here.

07. Next to the Puck there is the most grandiose object of the Olympic Park - the Bolshoi Ice Palace.

The 12 thousandth palace "Bolshoi" cost almost 10 billion rubles, which is 2.5 times higher than its analogues. The spectator seat at the Bolshoi stadium stands like a Toyota Corolla. But building is not enough: you also need to maintain an object. During the Olympics, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation complained that one day of the Bolshoi's work costs 1 million rubles, which is an incredible amount. They try to load the object in every possible way after the Olympics. It hosted the 2014 Channel One Cup (Euro Hockey Tour stage) and the 2015 KHL All-Star Game. Since the 2014/15 season, Bolshoi has become the home arena of the newly created Sochi hockey club. For the second year in a row, the arena has also hosted the final festival and the Gala Match of the Night Hockey League, a project personally sponsored by the President of Russia.

Hockey club Sochi was quickly organized in the summer of 2014. Coach Vyacheslav Butsaev immediately managed to bring the team to the playoffs of the Continental Hockey League, where in the spring of 2015 in the first round it lost to the winners of the regular season CSKA Moscow. Haste is very noticeable in everything that concerns the club itself. Unsuccessful logo and corporate identity, vague marketing, mediocre paraphernalia, absence of a school and youth team, weak press service, etc. In the course of the debut season, Sochi began to experience financial problems, which became even more acute after the resignation in April 2015 of the governor of the Krasnodar Territory, Alexander Tkachev. It is likely that this year will cease to exist a team from the regional capital - "Kuban", which played in the VHL. There the money "unexpectedly" ran out. The team, of course, is more important to the resort Sochi, and in June the debts were paid off. With all the drawbacks, HC Sochi is interesting both as one of the features of an all-season resort, and as just an interesting participant in the KHL championship, where fans can “break through” a pleasant trip, and where the same KHL All-Star Game can be held.

The most modest venue for the Games is the Ice Cube, a curling arena. The 3,000-seat stadium was within a billion rubles. After the Olympics, almost all domestic Russian curling competitions, training events of the Russian national teams, as well as the emerging super cups (qualifying tournaments for the European and world championships) were transferred to it. The desire to load the facility turned out to be in abundance, that some athletes were already tired of Sochi. In April 2015, the arena hosted the World Championship among mixed doubles (double-mixed) - in a discipline included in the program of the 2018 Olympics.

10. The last May was the Russian curling championships and, in which I had a chance to participate.

If the decision to hold the Winter Olympics in the subtropics was absurd, then using the Olympic Park as a Formula 1 track should be recognized as an interesting way out. There are plenty of large concrete spaces around, expensive chain hotels and small guest houses too, and the airport is nearby. Within walking distance is the Black Sea. To go for a weekend in Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix, "touch the history" of the Olympics, swim in the sea and visit the mountains in Krasnaya Polyana - the public who has money should be satisfied. The number of wealthy people in Russia is sufficient and directing their flow to Sochi, forcing them to spend money on expensive pleasures (and F1 is always expensive) is a good option.

A year after the Games, the Wall of Champions of the Games was opened in the Olympic Park. By the way, the “Wall of Champions” is the name of the wall at the autodrome in Montreal, Canada, where in 1999 three Formula 1 champions crashed their cars at once. The Sochi wall consists of two pyramids, symbolizing the snow-capped mountains. The pyramids contain multi-colored plaques with the names of Russian Olympic and Paralympic medalists.

13. At the 2014 Paralympic Games, also held in Sochi, immediately after the Olympics, Russia confidently won the medal standings. Out of 80 medals, 30 gold, 28 silver and 22 bronze medals were won. The closest pursuer, Germany, has only 9 gold awards.

14. At the 2014 Olympics, 88 countries were represented, which is a new Olympic record for the winter games.

15. Russia became the first in the medal standings of the Games. Out of a total of 33 medals, 13 are gold, 11 are silver and 9 are bronze.

16. Near the Olympic rings - the object of constant photo sessions for tourists.

An indoor speed skating center with an Olympic 400-meter track is a rare phenomenon in the world. On the territory of the former USSR, there are such in (Belarus) and Astana (Kazakhstan). Russia had three: in Moscow ("Krylatskoye"), and Chelyabinsk ("Ural Lightning"). The facilities are extremely in demand for training and competition for speed skaters, as modern speed skating has gone under the roof. And so the fourth center was built in Sochi - "Adler-Arena". Alas, it was the only one of all the facilities of the Games redesigned, making a tennis academy. Of course, tennis in Sochi has a long tradition, but it can be practiced at other facilities that are not as unique as the speed skating center.

17. "Adler-Arena" is one of the most beautiful facilities of the Games, because a speed skating stadium cannot be beautiful.

18. It is worth rejoicing for tennis, but it was really possible to find another place for the tennis academy. About 7.5 billion rubles were spent on the facility (2.5 times more expensive than analogues). One seat in the 8,000-seat arena cost 925 thousand rubles.

19. Anna Chakvetadze finished with tennis and. Maria Sharapova surprisingly turned out to be one of the last torchbearers of the Olympic flame. It has nothing to do with Sochi, it's a summer sport, but come on! Born in Sochi, Olympic champion (Sharapova did not win the Olympics, even if they are not particularly quoted in tennis) and winner of Grand Slam tournaments Evgeny Kafelnikov left out of work. Ugly!

20. Between the "Adler-Arena" and "Iceberg" there is a training arena for figure skating - now it is the "Volosozhar and Trankova Figure Skating Center". Tatyana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov became Olympic champions in pair figure skating. Here is a training center for figure skating and short track speed skating. For example, in May 2015, the Russian national short track team trained there. There is also a mass skating for everyone.

21. The Iceberg is considered by many to be the most beautiful arena for the Games. This is definitely the most successful arena, as it hosted figure skating and short track competitions, where Russia won a scattering of medals. The 12-thousandth "Iceberg" cost 9 billion rubles - 2.3 times more expensive than analogues. At first, they wanted to transport it to another region, then convert it into a cycle track, and then they said that such a base is needed by athletes. Before the Games, the arena hosted the test Grand Prix Final in Figure Skating and the Russian Short Track Speed \u200b\u200bSkating and Figure Skating Championships. After the Olympics, figure skaters came here with the national championship only once. Representatives of both sports are no longer going to hold competitions at the venue. Only commercial ice shows put on their performances here. About the spending of the Olympics clearly.

The problem of the Olympic Park and its facilities is the remoteness from where people live. Directly from here to go from 40 minutes to one and a half hours - depending on traffic jams in Adler. Even from neighboring Adler, and the park is spread out behind it, it takes a certain time to get there. was good because all of its facilities are located close to residential areas and are people-oriented. Yes, by Kazan standards, something is located on the outskirts, but this is not an option from Sochi, where you need to go not just to another city, but even further. By the way, winter is also being built more or less within the city and not far from residential areas.

Nevertheless, they try to hold all kinds of events in the OI Park. In October 2014, for the first time in Russia, the Formula 1 Grand Prix took place on a local circuit. The current year was marked by the Olympic Sky air show at the end of May, and in April racers competed here as part of the Russian Rally Cup stage. Sochi Autodrom also serves as the venue for the Arctic Cup stages of the Mitjet 2L series of body cars. On October 11, Sochi will again host Formula 1, with which a contract has been signed for races until 2020.

24. The fifth stage of the open championship of the Krasnodar Territory Mitjet 2L - "Victory Cup" took place on May 9 and 10. 9 cars took part in the race.

25. Igor Muravlev became the winner of the race in the Semi PRO category.

26. Shore of the Black Sea of \u200b\u200bthe Imereti Lowland. Five minutes from the Olympic Park.

27. Abundance of fishermen. Do not forget that people live here.

28. There is an embankment from the park almost to the border with Abkhazia. It is pleasant to ride bicycles on it.

29. The road to the clouds. BAR, Jaguar and Joradn? :)

30. Black Sea.

31. A playground next to one of the hotels.

32. Bridge Resort is among the most decent local hotels. High quality but also very expensive. The food is excellent. If finances allow, feel free to choose it.

33. The hotel has several buildings, in addition to the main one. They are named after the world capitals: Tokyo, Beijing, Istanbul, Paris, London, Vienna, Sydney. I am glad to come back here.

34. At the beginning of May, the Russian national beach soccer team held their trainings at the hotel site. Who does not know, unlike ordinary football, the guys are the strongest in the world. Russia won the last two world championships, breaking the Brazilian hegemony. She also has a gold medal in the 2014 European Championship and four victories in the Euroleague. All the stars were in Sochi. Goalkeeper Andrey Bukhlitsky I remember very well, because at the coolest children's festival "Lokobol" we had a station (interregional tournament) named after him. It's funny that the captain of the national team Ilya Leonov, if I am not mistaken, I regularly wish you bon appetite at meals. At the end of the training camp, from 11 to 13 May, two teams of the Russian national team, as well as the national teams of Azerbaijan and Belarus, held a mini-tournament here called the RFU Cup. I thought to take a photo, but someone had already filmed for the BeachSoccerRussia portal and I decided to postpone the beach soccer photo shoot for the next time. It would be interesting, of course!

37. The mountains are already visible from Abkhazia, a part of Georgia controlled by an unrecognized government supported by Russia. The latter traditionally provides assistance to separatists - in addition to Abkhazia, in South Ossetia and Transnistria. There are those who like to travel to such territories, but it is safer to stay where at least some laws are in force.

40. Mountains in Abkhazia.

41. Nice!

42. Let's go back to the evening Olympic Park. Color and music fountain. Mediocre and monotonous repertoire. This is not Barcelona.

43. "Big" in the night. Notice how massive the staircase and the arena itself are. It takes a long time to get to your place from the parking lot or from the bus stop (in addition to a long trip from Sochi, for example).

Little has changed in the coastal cluster in the year since the Olympic Games. Only the Formula 1 track was added. The objects are all standing, outwardly they do not fall apart and are more or less exploited. The only exception is Fisht, an eternal construction site. The layout of all this is not the most successful, especially for subsequent operation, imperfections, endless fences and fences, empty checkpoints and parking lots - all this is there. And, of course, endless asphalt spaces, along which you walk and see no end.

44. "Fisht".

During the period of the Olympic Games, a number of media outlets came out with photo-selections of objects from past Games, which are now not used. Like, and "them" objects are idle, such as an Olympic feature. Moreover, the selections are the same arenas: Sarajevo 1984 (thirty years ago!), Athens 2004, Beijing 2008. To give as an example the capital of a country formed on the fragments of the former Yugoslavia and surviving a great war is very appropriate, yes. As well as remember the laziest nation in the EU, whose merits in organizing the Olympics the IOC decided to honor. About "winter" Vancouver, Turin or Salt Lake City, no one really remembers.

45. The park is deserted in the evening.

46. \u200b\u200bThe queue is not too busy even to the Olympic rings.

47. Prepare to take the military oath of recruits CSKA sports company. Patriotic frenzy intensified in connection with the May 9 holiday. For several days in a row, the same 10 songs about the war were played in the park from morning to evening.

The main message of the country's leadership: facilities must be used. We manage to download sports so far. With unsportsmanlike things, everything is not so rosy. Instead of adapting everything to a new life, demolishing something, rebuilding and re-profiling something - everything remains as at the Games. As a gradually decrepit symbol of past victories. Several times a year, the old man will continue to be dressed in a military tunic with awards, reminding him of how good it was once. The taking of the military oath by athletes and the amusing 8 goals of the head of state in the gala match of the Night Hockey League fit well into this series. Alas.

49. The hotel is behind several walls of fences. They make it uncomfortable.

Although the stadiums are busy, huge funds are spent on their maintenance. In Sochi, temperatures are above zero almost all year round, and it is very hot in summer. Ice complexes in the subtropics are overhead. Moreover, built on such a scale. At the same time, the internal debt of the Krasnodar Territory is about 130 billion rubles. Of course, it's great that several thousand children and young athletes have the opportunity to go to camps in Sochi, but at whose expense? The effectiveness of all this is very low. All over Russia it was possible to build tens of thousands of sports grounds, palaces and swimming pools, and maintain them for many years. Instead, they received a one-time event, whose effect on the country's image was scattered by her own hands just a couple of weeks after the end of the Games. The lucky ones will visit Sochi, but what should the rest of the residents do?

50. "Iceberg" is especially beautiful at night.

51. But after looking at its decoration close up, then it is impossible to perceive it as the most beautiful object. Unsympathetic materials.

52. The Olympic Media Center has been built behind the Adler Arena, which can accommodate up to 8,000 people. In November 2014, it was there that the World Chess Championship Match between Norwegian Magnus Carlsen and Indian Viswanathan Anand took place.

53. Nearby is the most beautiful local hotel - Tulip Inn. Surprisingly, it is difficult to find places in it, despite the very high cost of rooms and an unfortunate location at the intersection of two highways.

Of course, like any sports fan who also works in it and sometimes even competes, I would like to come back here again. I don’t know in what capacity and for what event. It is warm here, pleasant air, beautiful sea, there is a place for cycling, beautiful and majestic mountains in the distance - this is another reason to go to